Why Did The Dodo Become Extinct?
When the dodo became extinct in the mid-17th century , no one thought that it should become a symbol that we still see today when we think of all the endangered animals.
Humans are responsible for the extinction of this unique bird over 400 years ago. Find out more about this topic today.
What is a dodo?
The dodo, also known as the dronte (Raphus cucullatus), is an extinct species of bird that is directly related to the pigeon. It was a flightless bird that was native to the Mauritius Islands.
The dodo had gray plumage and weighed about 10 kg, some suggest that it could even reach a weight of 17 kg. Curiously, the large, hook-shaped beak and strong, yellowish legs stand out.
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Although the bird is described as plump and clumsy, this probably does not correspond to reality. Most of the drawings that have survived come from captured and possibly overfed animals.
The word dodo could have been derived from the Portuguese word “doudo”, which means something like “fool” or “simpleton”. However, this could not be proven with certainty.
Presumably, the dodo mainly fed on tambalacoque trees. Presumably, this tree is dependent on fruit-eating species for reproduction, because the seeds must first pass through the intestinal tract so that they can then be fruitful.
There are now very few specimens of this tree left.
Why did the dodo become extinct?
The reason for this flightless bird’s extinction can only be guessed at. He wasn’t used to enemies, so he wasn’t afraid. Invasive exotic species such as rats, dogs, cats and pigs introduced by humans had an easy time of it.
In addition, the bird was very trusting and therefore easily caught by humans. The meat was not exactly tasty, but like the eggs, it was particularly valued by seafarers on their long voyages.
It was brought to Europe by Spanish conquerors in 1581.
The last specimen was seen in 1662, but it is believed that examples continued to exist until the end of the 17th century. Similar to the giant alk, there are several remains of bones and eggs in museums, but these are not so well preserved.
It can be assumed that other species also disappeared from the Mauritius Islands. Such as the Rodrigues solitaire, a bird from the dodo family. It was more reminiscent of a turkey and was the main prey of the imported cat.
The extinction of the dodo made people aware that animals are not eternal, especially if they are not protected by humans.
Thus the dodo became one of the best examples of extinct animals and a symbol for the protection of all animal species threatened with extinction.
